Wichita eagle., 1887-06-19
SOUTH AND SOUTHERN KANSAS.

To the Editor of the Eagle.
1t is well known fact that all great and
good men have been misrepresented and
slandered, but amid all this they have mos
always come out and risen above all their
SANDER of the tongue and press if they
were not true; and SO with all cities that
have grown to any prominence. as it is
with Wichita. She has been misrepre-
sented, not only in her own state, but
through the press of the eastern cities that
she was failure, with the intention,
through jealous spirit, of breaking her
down, and building up some other city at
her expense.
Having had a few years experience with
all the leading cities in Kansas, l must say
that I believe in her as other cities before
her, that her future prospects will excel
all her most sanguine admirers.
Her building boom continues undated
and it has been question in my mind
whether she will build as many buildings
in 1887 as all the buildings she ever had up
to December, 1886, excepting Douglas av-
enue and Main street. l shall leave that to
those to decide that have said Wichita was
failure.
There are great many good cities which
their future can hardly be estimated. 1t is
q we'll known fact that southern and south
western Kansas are filling up more rapidly
than the northern portion. And how few
there are even here in Wichita know the
rapid growth that is going on in the neigh
boring counties and county seats, especially
Anthony which is now building large
opera house and from eight to ten large
stores and not less than one hundred dwell
ings. And 1 must say it is one of the
pleasantest located county seats in Kansas.
And there is Kingman which is almost
beating herself in stores and dwellings, and
was surprised to see the rapid growth Of
that city And still further west is Pratt
county which is the third best county of
land in all Kansas. Pratt Center, which is
located in the center of the county, is now
building a hotel not to be excelled, costing
not less than fifty thousand dollars, and
from twelve to fifteen three story brick
building, which are duplicated
of some of the best blocks on Main street,
Wichita, besides dwellings and other build
ings to numerous to mention. And how
few of your readers that know the Rock
Island road that runs through Pratt Center
have now under construction a round
house of a capacity that will hold from
seventy to eighty engines And one hun
dred and twenty acres of land adjoining
for their machine and repair shops, which
will employ from five to seven hundred
men. And how few of your readers know
of town called Preston in Pratt county,
being about eighteen miles northeast OF
Pratt Center, at the junction Of the Rock
Island and D. NJ. & A. r. RS, being
about two months old and twelve miles
from the nearest town and surrounded by
the best and richest agricultural land of al
Kansas, and challenge Kansas to produce
larger body of land to excel it in richness
of soil. Preston has from eighty to one
hundred stores and dwellings, two hunks
and other buildings.
Still farther on is Coldwater, Ashland anC
Mead Confer which are all contributors te
the growth and prosperity of Wichita
And they are all good and prosperous
counties and will double their resources the
coming year, and they all contribute to thu
growth and prosperity of Wichita. And
might 20 on and numerate hundreds an(
thousands that contribute to the rapi(
growth of this city. And after all that ha
been said havn't ever known one wht
had investments here or come to see th,
city were not amazed and surprised at he
rapid growth and prosperity. And if you
readers knew the developments that wer
going on among us fear we should nav,
another boom before autumn comes. AnC
who can tell how much Wichita, Topeka
Emporia, Newton, Hutchinson and othe
surrounding cities has contributed to tn
building up of Kansas City?
! JOSEPH MORSE.